Young people are learning how to box and how to have respectful relationships

Billy and Kerri Graham with Naenae and Cannons Creek members and Police

Young people are learning how to box and how to have respectful relationships.

This unusual but effective combination is happening at the Billy Graham Youth Foundation, who have just been accredited by White Ribbon, the annual campaign to prevent men’s violence against women.

“White Ribbon is delighted by the way the Billy Graham Youth Foundation has integrated the development of respectful behaviour into their youth and community work,” says White Ribbon NZ chair, Cam Ronald.

David Graham and Michael Kaufman, White Ribbon Co-founder

Kerri Graham, the Billy Graham Youth Foundation General Manager says “The Billy Graham Youth Foundation takes boys and girls and makes them into champion young men and women, teaching them life skills and values – Respect, Responsibility, Compassion, Consideration, Kindness, Duty, Obedience and Honesty and Truthfulness”.

“Our coaches, volunteers, staff, young boys and girls lead and actively support the White Ribbon kaupapa and we all play a role in building support, visibility and developing a shared understanding of the campaign within our Academies, social groups, workplaces and communities.”

BGYF Academies willingly challenge the behaviours of abusive men and convey key White Ribbon messages directly to its local and wider community.

The endorsement of the Billy Graham Youth Foundation as a White Ribbon Accredited Organisation is a catalyst for the growth of the White Ribbon Campaign, a generational change in the mind set of our children and young people and a reduction in Family Harm across New Zealand.”

“White Ribbon’s annual Respectful Relationships campaign is underway right now, so it’s very timely that we recognised the Billy Graham Youth Foundation” explains Cam Ronald. “White Ribbon aims to prevent men’s’ violence against women, so having more organisations involved makes this much more possible.”

“The way in which they promote White Ribbon’s respectful relationship messages and have developed appropriate policies and staff training is an exemplar, and we hope that other organisation will step up and take an active role in preventing violence.”

“To support our partnership together, we’re very pleased to appoint David Graham of the Billy Graham Youth Foundation as a White Ribbon Ambassador. He exemplifies White Ribbon values, and has the ability to influence many young lives.”

“I am very excited to be taking on this role as a White Ribbon ambassador. We have a fantastic opportunity in the academy to deliver White Ribbon messaging directly to our young men, as well as supporting them by embodying such principles as a coaching staff.”

The Billy Graham Youth Foundation is hosting a visit from the White Ribbon Riders on White Ribbon Day (the 25th of November) at their Cannons Creek Boxing Academy. The White Ribbon Ride is an initiative to tackle this country’s domestic violence record. Cannons Creek Boxing Academy Head Coach, Latu Talu is excited to be hosting the White Ribbon Riders this year and says “the White Ribbon Riders will help our boys, girls, families and the Cannons Creek community to learn from real people, sharing real stories about overcoming domestic violence,” and he hoped the whole community will turn out to support them.

The White Ribbon accreditation programme supports organisations to build violence prevention into their usual business and recognised those who do this effectively. “We’ve previously accreditated The Warehouse, a large retail business. Working with a smaller, local social service like the Billy Graham Youth Foundation demonstrates how any organisation can effectively prevent violence,” says Cam Ronald. “Accreditation recognises the organisation’s commitment and we develop a supportive partnership together”.